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Modernizing the Labor Department’s Foreign Labor Application Gateway
The Labor Department had more than 500 business applications, but one that was in dire need of modernization was the foreign labor application gateway. The outdated legacy system required employees to check out a special blue paper at the beginning of the day and account for every piece of paper at the end of the day. Business owners who wanted to hire foreign labor had to go to an office and fill out a paper application. Labor received a $3.5 million grant from the Technology Modernization Fund in January 2019 to upgrade the system.
The initial award from the Technology Modernization Fund was used to completely transform the system. The blue paper was eliminated, and a 20-page certification was condensed to a one-page approval appendix. Additionally, an interagency data hub was set up to allow the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) to electronically access the necessary data. These changes simplified the process for employers and improved efficiency.
The Labor Department also redesigned forms, rewrote regulations, and implemented updated processing methods. These changes not only streamlined operations within the department, but also resulted in significant cost savings. By eliminating the need for supplies, the department saved approximately $3 million annually. In the temporary labor certification program, employees were able to focus on higher-value work. The permanent or green card employment program, which began accepting submissions on May 31, will save an estimated 45 days off the processing cycle and save employers about $1.5 million annually.
Modernizing and Consolidating Business Applications across the Department
Mangala Kuppa, the director of business application services in the chief information officer’s office at the Labor Department, leads the effort to modernize and consolidate business applications. Kuppa’s role includes looking across all 27 agencies within the department to find commonalities and improve operational efficiency.
The consolidation of business applications is part of the department’s move towards shared services. The goal is to unleash the benefits of shared services and improve support for the agency’s mission. Kuppa’s team is focused on bringing in new technologies, modernizing workflow processes, and ensuring different program areas are aware of existing technologies that can be used to their advantage.
As part of this modernization effort, the department is exploring technologies such as chatbots and artificial intelligence. The goal is to automate mundane administrative tasks and free up time for more value-added work. By investing in software-as-a-service solutions and cloud-based solutions, the department aims to reduce its footprint and improve efficiency.
Improving Services and Listening to Mission Leaders
One of the main drivers behind the modernization and consolidation of business applications is to provide better services to citizens and businesses. Kuppa emphasizes the importance of listening to mission or business leaders and being transparent about what technology can and cannot help with. It’s crucial to create a trusted relationship and address any concerns that arise.
Kuppa and her team ensure persistent follow-up to resolve problems and work towards transparency. They acknowledge mistakes and present plans for improvement. These actions help build a strong relationship with agency customers and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Overall, the Labor Department’s efforts to modernize and consolidate business applications are driven by the goal to improve efficiency, save costs, and provide better services to citizens and businesses. By leveraging new technologies and listening to mission leaders, the department is making significant progress in its modernization journey.
